Fought 1595, between the Japanese, under Konishi Yukinaga, and the
Chinese, under Li Chin. The Japanese were defeated, and forced to retire
upon the capital.
Hengestesdun (Danish Invasion).
Fought 835, when the men of Wessex, under Egbert, totally defeated the
Danes and Cornish Britons.
Hennersdorf (War of the Austrian Succession).
Fought November, 1745, between 60,000 Prussians, under Frederick the
Great, and 40,000 Austrians and Saxons, under Prince Charles of
Lorraine. Frederick surprised Prince Charles on the march, and utterly
routed his vanguard, comprised of Saxons, with enormous loss. The
Austrians were compelled in consequence to retire into Bohemia.
Heraclea (Pyrrhus’ Invasion of Italy).
Fought B.C. 280, between the Epirots, 30,000 strong, under Pyrrhus, and
about 35,000 Romans, under P. Laverius Lævinus. The Romans crossed the
Siris in the face of the enemy, when they were attacked by Pyrrhus, and
after a furious conflict, were at last broken by his elephants, and fled
in disorder, losing about 7,000 men. The Epirots lost 4,000.
Heraclea.
Fought 313, between the Illyrians, under Licinius, afterwards Emperor of
the East, and the troops of the reigning Emperor Maximinus. Licinius was
marching with 30,000 men to the relief of Heraclea, when he was attacked
by Maximinus, with 70,000. Licinius was at first driven back by weight
of numbers, but his skill, and the steadiness of his troops, enabled him
to rally, and eventually Maximinus was defeated with heavy loss.
Herat (Tartar Invasion of Afghanistan).
This city was captured, 1220, by 20,000 Tartars, under Sudah Bahadur.
The Governor, Emin Malek, was entirely unprepared to stand a siege, and
surrendered when the Tartars appeared before the walls. Having meanwhile
been retaken by a _coup-de-main_, by Shems-ed-din, who held it as an
independent chieftain, Herat was again besieged by the Mongols, under
Tuli Khan, in 1221. After a brief, but resolute resistance, during which
Shems-ed-din fell, the inhabitants opened the gates to the besiegers,
and the garrison was put to the sword.
Herat (Perso-Afghan Wars).
On November 22, 1837, Mohamed, Shah of Persia, laid siege to the city,
which was held by an Afghan garrison, under Yar Mohamed. After a
somewhat desultory siege, an attempt was made to storm the place, June
24, 1838, when the Persians were repulsed with a loss of 1,700 men. From
this time a tacit armistice existed till September 9, when the Shah
withdrew his army.
Herdonea (Second Punic War).
Fought B.C. 210, when the Carthaginians, under Hannibal, defeated, and
practically destroyed an army of 25,000 Romans, under Cnæus Fulvius.
Fulvius was among the slain.
Héricourt (Burgundian Wars).
Fought November 13, 1474, between the Swiss, 18,000 strong, and the
Burgundians, 10,000 in number. The Burgundians were totally defeated,
the town of Héricourt taken.
Hermanstadt (Ottoman Wars).
Fought 1442, and notable as being the first appearance of John Huniades
in arms against the Turks. With an army of Hungarians he totally
defeated Mejid Bey, who was besieging Hermanstadt, inflicting on the
Turks a loss of 20,000 men, and relieving the place. The Hungarians lost
3,000.
Hernani (First Carlist War).
Fought August 29, 1836, between the British legion, under General Evans,
and the Carlists. Evans was defeated.
Hernani (First Carlist War).
Fought March 15 and 16, 1837, between the British legion, and a small
contingent of Cristinos, under General Evans, and about 17,000 Carlists,
under Don Sebastian, strongly posted on the Hernani road. On the 15th,
Evans attacked the Carlists on the Venta heights, and after five hours’
fighting occupied the position. On the 16th, when the conflict was
resumed, the Carlists retired into Hernani, but reinforcements arriving,
they took the offensive, and forced Evans to retreat.
Herrera (First Carlist War).
Fought August 23, 1837, between the Carlists, under Don Carlos, with
General Moreno in actual command, and the Cristinos, under General
Buerens. Don Carlos, who was marching upon Madrid, attacked Buerens
before he could effect a junction with Espartero, and severely defeated
him, the Cristinos losing 50 officers, and 2,600 men killed, wounded and
missing. Don Carlos, after this victory, advanced to within twelve miles
of Madrid, when the appearance of Espartero, at the head of 20,000
troops, obliged him to retire.
Herrings, The (Hundred Years’ War).
Fought at Roncray-St.-Denis, February 12, 1429. Sir John Fastolfe was in
charge of a convoy of salt fish for the English army before Orleans, and
hearing of the approach of a French force, under the Bastard of Orleans,
intrenched himself at Roncray. Here the French attacked him, and were
repulsed with heavy loss, the Bastard being severely wounded.
Hexham (Wars of the Roses).
Fought May 15, 1464, when the Yorkists, under Montague, surprised the
Lancastrians, under Somerset, in their camp at Linnels, near Hexham. The
Lancastrians were practically in a trap, and had no option but to
surrender. Somerset and many other important leaders were taken, and
promptly executed. This success secured Edward IV on the throne.
Himera (First Carthaginian Invasion of Sicily).
Fought 480 B.C., between the Syracusans and Agrigentines, 557,000
strong, under Gelon, Tyrant of Syracuse, and the Carthaginians, said to
number 300,000, under Hamilcar. The Carthaginians were totally routed,
and Hamilcar slain.
Himera (Second Carthaginian Invasion of Sicily).
This place was besieged by the Carthaginians, under Hannibal, B.C. 409.
A first assault was repulsed, and Diocles arriving in the harbour with
25 ships, rescued half the inhabitants. Three days later he returned for
the remainder, but too late, for before he could reach the harbour the
breach was stormed. The town was sacked, and 3,000 prisoners were
sacrificed to appease the shade of Hamilcar, who had fallen in the
battle of 480.
Hippo (Invasion of the Vandals).
Siege was laid to this city in May, 430, by the Vandals, under Genseric.
It was defended by Boniface, Count of Africa, who having command of the
sea, was able to keep the city well provisioned, and after fourteen
months Genseric retired. Among those who died during the siege was St.
Augustine.
Hochkirchen (Seven Years’ War).
Fought October 14, 1758, between the Prussians, under Frederick the
Great, and the Austrians, under Count Daun. Frederick, who was encamped
on the heights of Hochkirchen, was surprised in the early morning by the
Austrians, who broke into his camp and seized his artillery. He
succeeded, however, in forming up his troops, and descending into the
plain, made good his retreat to Bautzen. The Prussians lost 9,000 men,
including the Prince of Brunswick and Marshal Keith, all their tents and
baggage, and 101 guns. The Austrians lost 8,000 killed and wounded.
Hochstett (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought June 19, 1800, between 70,000 French, under Moreau, and about
80,000 Austrians, under de Kray. Moreau crossed the Danube with the
object of cutting off the Austrians from their base, and forcing them to
evacuate Ulm. In a battle which lasted 18 hours, he succeeded in
establishing himself upon the left bank, and making Ulm untenable. The
French took 5,000 prisoners and 20 guns, but the losses on both sides in
killed and wounded were small for the numbers engaged.
Hoechst (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought June 10, 1622, between 20,000 Palatinate troops, under Christian
of Brunswick, and 33,000 Imperialists, under Tilly. Christian having
failed to join forces with Mansfeldt, was in retreat, and was engaged in
holding a bridge over the Main. While thus employed he was overtaken by
Tilly, and though a village covering the bridge was held gallantly for
five hours, he was at last overpowered, losing about 12,000 in killed,
wounded and prisoners. The Imperialist loss was comparatively small.
Hogland (Russo-Swedish Wars).
Fought 1789, between the Russian fleet, under Admiral Greig, and the
Swedes, under the Duke of Sudermanland. Each side lost a ship, but
strategically the affair was a Russian victory, for the Swedes were
compelled to seek the protection of the forts of Sveaborg.
Hohenfriedberg (War of the Austrian Succession).
Fought June 3, 1745, between the Austrians and Saxons, under Charles of
Lorraine, and the Prussians, under Frederick the Great. The Saxons, who
were encamped at Strigau, were attacked in the early morning, and
defeated before the Austrians could come to their aid. Frederick then
turned upon the Austrians, and routed them, after desperate fighting.
The Austrians and Saxons lost 4,000 killed and wounded, 7,000 prisoners,
including 4 generals, and 66 guns. The Prussians lost 2,000.
Hohenlinden (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought December 3, 1800, between the French, 60,000 strong, under
Moreau, and 70,000 Austrians, under the Archduke John. Moreau occupied
the small clearing of Hohenlinden, and the surrounding forest, while the
Austrian army marched by five distinct routes to rendezvous at
Hohenlinden. The Archduke’s attack on the village was repulsed, and
meanwhile Moreau had fallen upon his advancing columns at various
points, and after severe fighting defeated them. The Austrians lost
7,000 killed and wounded, 12,000 prisoners and 87 guns.
Hollabrunn (Campaign of the Danube).
A rearguard action to protect the retreat of the main Russian army,
under Kutusoff, November 16, 1805, between 7,000 Russians, under Prince
Bagration, and the French, under Lannes. Bagration did not retire until
he had lost half his force.
Homildon Hill (Scottish Wars).
Fought September, 1402, when the Percies lay in wait for a Scottish
force, under Murdach Stewart, and Archibald, Earl of Douglas, who were
returning from a foray into England. The Scots were totally routed,
losing Stewart, 4 Scottish peers, and 80 gentlemen of rank.
Honain.
Fought 629, between 12,000 Moslems, under Mohammed, and a force of pagan
Arabs, 4,000 strong. The Moslems were lured into the valley of Honain,
and were assailed by slingers and archers from the surrounding heights.
They were, however, rallied by the Prophet, and totally routed the
Pagans, who submitted to the rule of Mohammed.
Hondschook (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought September, 1793, between the Austrians, under Freytag, and the
French, under Houchard. The Austrians occupied a strong position from
which they were driven in disorder, and with heavy loss. As a
consequence of this victory, the siege of Dunkirk was raised.
Hooghly, The.
Fought November 24, 1759, between three British ships, under Commodore
Wilson, and a Dutch squadron of seven sail. After two hours’ fighting,
the Dutch were completely defeated, and all their ships captured.
Meanwhile a force of 700 Europeans and 800 Sepoys landed from the Dutch
fleet, was defeated with heavy loss by 330 British troops and 800
Sepoys, under Colonel Forde.
Huesca (Mohammedan Empire in Spain).
Fought 1105, when the Moors, under Ali attacked the Spaniards, who,
under Alfonso VI of Castile, were besieging Huesca. Ali was utterly
routed, losing 10,000 killed in the battle.
Huesca (First Carlist War).
Fought May 23, 1837, between 20,000 Carlists, under Don Carlos and Don
Sebastian, and 12,000 Cristinos and British under General Irribarreu.
The British legion behaved unsteadily and the Cristinos were driven from
the field, though the pursuit was checked by a brilliant cavalry charge,
in which Irribarreu fell. The Cristinos lost over 1,000 killed and
wounded, of which number the British legion lost 277.
Humaita (Paraguayan War).
Fought May, 1866, between the Paraguayans, under Lopez, and the
Argentinians, under Mitre. Mitre attacked the Paraguayan entrenchments,
but was repulsed with heavy loss.
Humaita (Paraguayan War).
Fought February, 1868, between the Paraguayan batteries, and a flotilla
of Brazilian gunboats, endeavouring to force the passage. Their attempt
was a complete failure, and the whole flotilla was sunk.
Humaita (Paraguayan War).
Fought September, 1868, between the Paraguayans, under Lopez, and the
allied armies of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The allies largely
outnumbered Lopez’s forces, and forced him to abandon his entrenchments
at Humaita, and retire to Tebienari.
Humblebeck (Dano-Swedish Wars).
Fought 1700, when Charles XII, with a small force of Swedes, landed in
face of the Danish army, which was strongly entrenched close the shore,
and drove them headlong from their position with heavy loss.
Hydaspes, The (Alexander’s Campaigns in Asia).
Fought B.C. 327, between 65,000 Macedonians and 70,000 Asiatics, under
Alexander the Great, and the army of the Indian king Porus, numbering
30,000 infantry, with 200 elephants and 300 war chariots. Alexander
crossed the river a few miles above Porus’ entrenchments, and utterly
routed him, with a loss of 12,000 killed and 9,000 prisoners, including
Porus himself. The Macedonians lost 1,000 only.
Hyderabad (Conquest of Scinde).
Fought March 24, 1843, between 6,000 British troops, under Sir Charles
Napier, and 20,000 Beluchis, under Shir Mohammed. The latter was
strongly entrenched behind the Fullali, but the Beluchis, being thrown
into disorder by a heavy artillery fire, were overthrown by a charge of
cavalry on their exposed flank, and a frontal attack by the 22nd
Regiment. This defeat put an end to the resistance of the Scinde Emirs.
Hysiæ.
Fought, approximately, 668 B.C., between the Spartans and the Argives.
The former were totally defeated, and Argos was left in undisputed
possession of the supremacy of the Peloponnesus.
I
Ichinotani (Taira War).
Fought 1189, between the troops of the Shogun Minamoto-no-Yoritomo,
under his brothers Norigoris and Yoshitsune, and the forces of the Taira
clan. The Taira were signally defeated.
Iclistavisus (Germanic Wars).
Fought 16, between 8 Roman legions, under Germanicus, and the Germans,
under Arminius. The Germans attacked the Romans in the open plain, but
failed against the superior discipline of the legionaries, and were
routed with enormous loss. Arminius with difficulty cut his way out of
the press and escaped.
Immac (Revolt of Elagabalus).
Fought June 7, 218, between the Syrian legions, under Elagabalus, and
the Imperial troops and Pretorians, under the Emperor Macrinus. The
Pretorians, by their superior valour and discipline, broke the legions
opposed, and the victory would have been theirs, but at the crisis of
the fight, Macrinus fled, and this so discouraged his troops, that in
the end they were totally defeated.
Imola (Napoleon’s Italian Campaigns).
Fought February 3, 1797, when 8,000 French and Italians, under Victor,
defeated the Papal troops, 7,000 strong, under General Colli. Victor
took the Papal army in the rear, and routed them with a loss of a few
hundred only, as no stand was made.
Indus, The (Tartar Invasion of Kharismia).
Fought A.D. 1221, between 300,000 Tartars, under Genghis Khan, and the
army of Jellalladin, Sultan of Kharismia, 30,000 strong. Jellalladin
fought with his back to the river, and after an obstinate conflict, in
which he inflicted heavy loss on his assailants, was driven across the
Indus, having lost 19,000 men killed and drowned. The Tartars lost
20,000.
Ingavi.
Fought November 18, 1841, between the Bolivians, under Ballivian, 3,800
strong, and the Peruvians, 5,200 strong, under Gamarra. The Peruvians
were utterly routed, and their army dispersed, Gamarra being among the
killed.
Ingogo (First Boer War).
Fought February 8, 1881 when a small British column, consisting of 5
companies of infantry, 4 guns, and a small mounted force, attacked the
Boer position, and were repulsed with a loss of 139 killed and wounded.
The Boers admitted a loss of 14 only.
Inhlobane Mountain (Zulu War).
Fought March 28, 1879, when a British force of 1,300 men, under Colonels
Buller and Russell, attacked a strong Zulu kraal, and after severe
fighting, were repulsed with considerable loss.
Inkerman (Crimean War).
Fought November 5, 1854, when 50,000 Russians, under Prince
Mentschikoff, attacked the British position at Inkerman, held by about
8,000 troops. There was a dense fog, and the battle was chiefly a series
of detached hand-to-hand combats some of the most serious fighting being
round the Sandbag Battery, where the Russians lost 1,200 killed. At 10
o’clock, the French arrived on the scene, and the Russians were soon in
full retreat, having suffered very heavy loss.
Inverlochy (Civil War).
Fought February 2, 1645, when Montrose, with 1,500 Royalist Highlanders,
defeated 3,000 Campbells and Lowland Covenanters, with a loss of 1,700
men. Argyle left the command of his forces to Campbell of Auchinbrech,
taking refuge in a vessel on Loch Linnhe. This defeat broke the power of
the Campbells in the Highlands for many years.
Inverkeithing (Scottish Wars).
Fought 1317, between the English invaders, and the Scots, under the Earl
of Fife. The first onslaught of the English drove the Scots from their
positions, but they were rallied by William Sinclair, Bishop of Dunkeld,
and forced the English to retire to their ships.
Inverary (Scottish Wars).
Fought 1510, between the Scots, under Robert Bruce, and the English,
under Sir John Mowbray, with whom was a small force of Scottish
sympathisers with the English claims, under the Earl of Buchan. The
English were totally defeated and driven from the field with heavy loss.
Ipsus (Wars of Alexander’s Successors).
Fought B.C. 302, between the Syrians, 32,000 strong, under Seleucus, and
the Macedonians, 30,000 in number, under Antigonus. Seleucus utterly
routed the Macedonians, Antigonus being among the slain. Demetrius
Poliorcetes, who now took command, only succeeded in rallying 8,000 men,
after fleeing for 200 miles.
Irun (First Carlist War).
This fortress was captured, May 18, 1837, by 10,000 Cristinos and
British, under General Evans. Evans appeared before the place at noon,
and summoned it to surrender. On the Carlists refusing, an assault was
ordered; by 11 p.m. the fortress was taken, with very small loss to the
assailants.
Isandhlwana (Zulu War).
Fought January 22, 1879, when six companies of the 24th Regiment, with
two guns and a small force of Natal volunteers, under Colonel Durnford,
were overwhelmed and massacred by the Zulus, under Matyana. Of the
regulars, 26 officers and 600 men were killed, in addition to 24
officers, and a large number of men in the Colonial force.
Isara, The (Third Gallic Invasion).
Fought August 8, 121 B.C., between the Arverni and Allobroges, under
Betuitdus, and the Romans, under Q. Fabius Maximus. The Gauls were
totally defeated, and a bridge breaking down under the press of the
fugitives, they suffered enormous loss.
Isaszcq (Hungarian Rising).
Fought April 6, 1849, between the Hungarians, 42,000 strong, under
Görgey, and the Croats, under Jellachich. The Hungarian First Corps,
under Klapka, was put to flight, but the rest stood their ground, and
repulsed the Croat attack. Both armies bivouacked for the night on the
ground they held, but early on the following morning Jellachich retired,
the Hungarians thus being entitled to claim a victory.
Isle de France (Napoleonic Wars).
This island, now known as Mauritius, was captured from the French,
December 3, 1810, by a fleet of 19 ships, under Admiral Bertie,
convoying a number of transports, carrying 10,000 troops, under General
Abercromby. The British lost 167 killed, wounded and missing. Seven
frigates and ten sloops were taken, as well as 21 French and 3 captured
British merchantmen.
Isly (Abd-el-Kader’s Rebellion).
Fought August 14, 1844, between 8,000 French, under Marshal Bugeaud, and
45,000 Algerines, chiefly cavalry, under Abd-el-Kader. The French
infantry repulsed all the charges of the Algerine Horse, and aided by
the artillery, inflicted heavy loss upon them; when sufficiently shaken,
a charge of the French cavalry completed the rout, and the Algerines
fled, leaving 1,500 dead on the field. Abd-el-Kader was captured.
Ismail (Ottoman Wars).
This fortress was taken by assault by the Russians, under Suwaroff,
December 22, 1790. The Russians lost enormous numbers in the storm, and
in revenge they massacred the garrison and inhabitants without mercy.
Issus (Alexander’s Asiatic Campaigns).
Fought B.C. 333, between 35,000 Macedonians, under Alexander the Great,
and a vast horde of Asiatics, with 30,000 Greek mercenaries, under
Darius, King of Persia. The Persians were drawn up on the right bank of
the Pinarus, which crosses the plain of Issus. Alexander, led his heavy
cavalry to the attack on the left, crossing the river, and routing the
Persian cavalry. The phalanx in the centre was opposed to the Greek
mercenaries, and after heavy fighting, the Macedonians made good their
footing on the right bank. Alexander meanwhile led his squadrons against
the bodyguard of Darius, who fled from the field, followed by the whole
of the Asiatics, and the victory was complete.
Issus (Ottoman Wars).
Fought 1488, between the Turks, under Bajazet II, and the Egyptians,
under the Sultan of Egypt. The Turks were defeated.
Itabitsu.
Fought October, 740, between the Japanese rebels, under Hirotsuke,
13,000 strong, and the troops of the Emperor Shommu under Ono-no-Atsuma.
The Imperial troops, who were only 8,000 in number, attacked the rebels
as they were crossing the river, and routed them with heavy loss.
Hirotsuke was killed.
Ivry (Eighth Civil War).
Fought March 14, 1590, between the Huguenots, under Henri IV, and the
Catholics, under the Duc de Mayenne. Henri gained a complete victory,
and marched forward to invest Paris.
J
Jalula (Moslem Invasion of Persia).
Fought 637, between the Moslems, under Said, and the Persians, under
Yezdegerd. Yezdegerd fled from the field, and his troops discouraged,
were totally routed with heavy loss.
Jamaica.
This island was captured from the Spaniards, May, 1655 by a combined
English naval and military force, under Admiral Penn and General
Venables.
Jarnac (Third Civil War).
Fought March 13, 1569, between the Catholics, under the Marshal de
Tavannes, and the Huguenots, under the Prince de Condé. The brunt of the
action was borne by the Huguenot cavalry, who were overpowered by the
Catholics, and Condé slain.
Jassy (Ottoman Wars).
Fought September 20, 1620, between the Poles under Gratiani, and the
Turks, under Osman II. The Poles were completely defeated.
Jellalabad (First Afghan War).
This fortress was besieged by the Afghans, under Mohammed Akbar Khan,
March 11, 1842, after the destruction of General Elphinstone’s force in
the Khoord Cabul pass. It was defended by a small British garrison,
under General Sale. Akbar led his whole army to the assault, but was
gallantly repulsed, and then sat down to besiege the place in form. An
attempt to relieve it by Brigadier Wyld, in January, 1843, failed, Wyld
being defeated in the Khyber Pass by the Khyberis. The garrison
meanwhile made several successful sorties, and on April 7, drove Akbar
Khan out of his entrenchments, with a loss of all his guns, and many
men, forcing him to raise the siege. All chance of a renewal of the
investment was ended by the arrival on the 18th, of a strong relieving
force, under General Pollock.
Jemappes (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought November 6, 1792, between the Austrians, under the Archduke
Albert, and the French, under Dumouriez. The Austrians occupied a very
strong position on the heights above Jemappes, from which they were
driven with heavy loss, the French gaining a signal victory.
Jena (Campaign of Jena).